The $28 shuttle to Puerto Viejo was full though wouldn't have paid it anyway - way overpriced for less than $5 of buses and a $4 water taxi. It was a Sunday, so often transport is difficult, especially in the afternoons when few people want to work and prices are sometimes higher too, so did crumble and take a $10 ride to the border from the ferry dock. It also meant I got through the border before noon - I had heard it may shut for a lunch hour!

I managed to get into Costa Rica without evidence of onward travel by schmoozing the official. The French guy who'd come from Columbia was not so fortunate as he was unable to produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate - he was told to go back to Panama, get the jabs & then wait the 10 days it took them to become effective!!!

Just a couple of hours from there to PV - I had been warned that it rains a lot there and, true to form, it started just as I arrived

. Consequently took the first room I saw - an OK detatched cabana for £15 with windows on 4 sides & no curtains - obviously designed by a guy - can you imagine the silhouettes once the light was on. There was wifi in the large reception/bar area and a kitchen. Reality soon hit - the minute non-closing fridge had no shelves, the freezer was full of bar ice so there was no space for guests stuff. The whole bar/dining/reception area was massive but had no lights, dangerous given the unexpected steps & slipperiness due to rain and was the staff family room of the several families and dozens of children who were never shushed! Staff were toking and the atmosphere was as dark & dirty as the building.

I couldn't wait to relocate the next day, lugging my luggage through the torrential rain & flooded streets, breaking a flip flop in the process. Checked the forecast before the power went down and this stuff is set to last until late tuesday, so will be spending a lot of time in the place. Important to be comfortable, so much so, I've broken the budget.

Rented a bike for the 12 mile return trip to Manzanillo as supposed to be a pretty route through the National Park with good animal spotting ops. Sadly, drizzle starting early into the trip and turned to heavier rain - about half way ducked into a place for hot chocolate but still no let up in the rain, so considering that, the flooded & poorly maintained road & my level of fitness, turned back!